Campus Compact is pleased to announce that Roberto Garcia, an undergraduate student in English and sociology at Michigan State University, has been awarded Campus Compact’s Student Leadership Award. The award recognizes undergraduate and graduate students who demonstrate inspiring leadership qualities through civic and community engagement.
Students who receive the award lead change on their campuses and in their communities and inspire their peers to do the same. Recipients of the Student Leadership Awards are selected on the basis of their leadership and community impact, their ability to overcome adversity, their commitment to learning and deep engagement with communities, and their support from campus and community partners.
"Roberto has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to public service, consistently translating his values into meaningful action that benefits both campus and community," said Renee Miller Zientek, executive director of the Center for Community Engaged Learning at Michigan State University, in a letter supporting Garcia’s nomination for the award. "He exemplifies the ideals of public service and possesses the determination, intellect, and compassion to create meaningful, lasting change."
“Students and their ability to lead change on campus and in their communities is at the heart of Campus Compact’s mission,” said Bobbie Laur, Campus Compact president. “The outstanding students who receive the Campus Compact Student Leadership Award are serving in leadership roles, creating impactful programs, and collaborating with partners on and off campus to make meaningful change. We are honored to present them with this award.”
The Student Leadership Award is presented as part of Campus Compact's Impact Awards, which recognize shining examples of meaningful, impactful higher education civic and community engagement work. Roberto was one of four students to win the award nationwide. Other student winners include Rishika Kartik from Brown University, Hilary Ramirez Payamps from Miami Dade College, and Mykala Bledsoe from The George Washington University. Read more about the other awards and this year's recipients here.
The recipients of these awards will be recognized at Compact26, Campus Compact’s annual conference, which will be held in Chicago, Illinois, from March 16th-18th, 2026.